Father of Lights: Cruel God and cruel men.

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

 God is a Good Father. He has revealed Himself as the Father of Lights. In Him, there exists no darkness at all. He is not the author or orchestrator of death, disaster, or destruction. He is the author of Abundant Life. 

 Does it matter whether we receive and understand this truth? Absolutely. If we want our faith to grow strong and steadfast, we must know the character of the One who makes the promise. Trust is built on knowing the heart behind the words. If we are to confidently trust a Savior who offers eternal life through simple belief, we must be fully convinced of the goodness and integrity of the One who offered it.

 As important as those things are, there is another reason we must know the character of God. We are told to emulate, to be like God throughout the Word. We have sayings like;

 What would Jesus do?

 If we think of Jesus and the Father and the Spirit as harsh taskmasters who are quick to punish, point out our sins and shortcomings, and separate themselves from us, how will we treat others? 

 When men believe they serve a cruel God, they themselves will become cruel. If they see God as angry, obsessed with rules, and determined to make them do what they dread simply to prove His power, it will shape their hearts into the same harsh image. A distorted view of God always produces a distorted life.

 The Lens of the Heart

The way we perceive God becomes the lens through which we see everything else.
If we believe God is unpredictable, harsh, and ready to lash out, we will approach life with fear, suspicion, and anxiety.
We will struggle to rest, to trust, or to live with joy — because deep down, we will always be bracing ourselves for the next blow.

But if we see Him as the Father of Lights, the One who is pure goodness with no shadow of turning, our hearts can finally exhale.
We can live freely, joyfully, and fearlessly, rooted in the unwavering love of a perfect Father.

"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

Religious Fear Produces Religious Cruelty

Many believers today, though sincere, have been taught to fear God in the wrong way.
Not with a holy awe for His majesty and grace, but with a terror of punishment and rejection.
This false fear hardens hearts. It produces believers who are more judgmental than joyful, more condemning than compassionate.

The truth is, a cruel view of God creates cruel men.
If you believe God is constantly displeased with you, you will live displeased with yourself and others.
You will feel justified in being critical, harsh, and unkind because you think that's how God is.

This isn't holiness. It's hurt wearing a religious mask.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." (1 John 4:18)

The Father of Lights

Our God is not two-faced. He is not sometimes good and sometimes cruel.
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever — good, faithful, merciful, and kind.

He corrects His children, yes — but He corrects by reminding us who we are in Christ, not by crushing us with calamity.
He leads by love, not by fear. He builds up — He doesn’t tear down.

Beloved, reject every image of God that is less beautiful than Jesus.
Reject the religious lie that portrays the Father as cruel, calculating, and condemning.
Embrace the radiant truth that your Father is the Father of Lights — and in Him, there is no darkness at all.

You were created to reflect the One you behold.
Behold His goodness — and you will shine.

 Religious traditions' distortion of God has created the image of a cruel God. This cruel image causes the thinking of the religious mind to be programmed to condemnation, shame, and guilt. We direct this first toward ourselves, and afterwards to others around us.  

 This makes us forget who the Father is. We forget that we cannot come to God based on our merits. We forget that it was only the shed blood of Jesus that makes us worthy. 

Summarizing, why must we know and understand how good God truly is? Because everything in the Christian life rests upon this truth. His goodness and His grace are not side notes—they are the very foundation! The entire Christian life rises or falls on this revelation. His goodness is the anchor of our faith, and His grace is the melody of the Gospel—without them, there is no true Christianity, only cold religion.

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

Father of Lights: What is the Chastening of the Lord

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

 If one subject or concept has caused much misunderstanding in the Body of Christ, it is the chastening of the Lord. The belief that God punishes His children or inflicts hardship to teach them a lesson is one of the most damaging lies a believer can hear. 

 It distorts the very nature and character of God, painting a Father who wounds to correct, rather than one who heals to restore. This misconception doesn’t just create confusion—it erodes trust, hinders intimacy, and misrepresents the heart of the Father revealed through Jesus.

Chastening is often misunderstood because it’s rarely defined by its true New Testament Greek meaning. Instead, people interpret it through the lens of painful experiences and outward hardships. These events become the definition of the chastening of the Lord rather than the Scriptures themselves. This is why people see God as a harsh taskmaster.

Observable hardships and adversity seem to be some kind of proof of divine discipline in the minds of traditional religious believers. But biblical chastening isn’t about punishment—it’s about loving instruction and correction that aligns with God’s goodness and grace. The chastening of the Lord is loving instruction and correction from our Father, who cares for us.

 The Lord's chastening is the Father's instruction to His child. It is correction, not condemnation. It is the conviction of your Righteousness in Christ, not catastrophes. It is coaching, not cancer. God is not crushing you, He comforts you and corrects you because He loves you.

 Hebrews 12 gives us the most detailed look at what the chastening of the Lord really is. It is not calamities and cataclysmic events in your life. It is God's instruction. A basic Bible search of the Greek word chasten will show you how, in other passages, it is translated as instruction, teaching, and learning.

Think about it: when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth—a group indulging in all kinds of excesses and immorality—he never once said, “God is going to chasten you with hardship.” Instead, he reminded them of who they were in Christ:

“Don’t you know you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?”

“Such were some of you, but you were washed, sanctified, and justified…” 

God’s correction comes through reminding you of your identity—not sending disaster to break your will.

 Why do so many ministers and believers, though, continue defining chastening as hardship and adversity? The reason for this, to me, is that they have a fearful expectation of judgment. That is, they have a fear of punishment. I believe the Apostle John has some insight into this.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. So the one who fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 MOUNCE

 So many define chastening from the Lord as painful instruction and punishment because they have not been perfected in Love. That is, they have not been seen, understood, or gained insight into God's perfect Love for them! When you know and believe that God Loves you and is not mad at you when you fail, you won't believe it's His hands bringing destruction and calamity to your life. 

God is a good Father. He doesn’t chasten His children with pain, punishment, or destruction. He corrects us the way a loving parent would—with instruction, compassion, and clarity. His correction aligns with His character—He is the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variation, no shifting shadow, and no hint of darkness.

To say God teaches us through cancer, car accidents, or catastrophe is to say Jesus bore our sin but not our discipline. It’s to suggest that the cross was not enough. But the truth is, Jesus already bore the curse. He already took the punishment. God isn’t doubling back to teach you a lesson through what Jesus died to redeem you from.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t discipline you by destroying your life—He disciplines you by reminding you of your sonship. He teaches you who you are in Christ. When correction is needed, He brings it through the Word, not wrath. Through love, not loss. Through grace, not grief.

So the next time you hear someone say, “God is using this hardship to teach me,” don’t be afraid to ask: “Where’s that in the New Covenant?” Because chastening—real biblical chastening—is God training you up in righteousness. It’s not a divine smackdown. It’s not a trial sent from heaven. It’s your loving Father whispering truth to your heart:

“That’s not who you are. You are holy. You are Mine. Let Me show you a better way.”

This is correction that leads to confidence, not condemnation. This is discipline that reminds you who you are, not punishment that makes you afraid of who He is.

Beloved, reject the religious lie that God teaches through trauma. He teaches through truth. He corrects by revealing your righteousness. He doesn’t bring storms—He calms them. He doesn’t break legs—He heals them. He’s not tearing you down. He’s building you up.

He is the Father of Lights. And in Him, there is no darkness at all.

imagebyGrok3onX

Father of Lights: Mercy not wrath!

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

God our Father is a Good Father and in Him is no darkness within Him. He is Good and only does Good. Yet when we see this world around us, filled with famine, disasters, and desolation, we begin doubting His Goodness.

 In these times, we must focus on who God said He was and look to the Son, Jesus who perfectly demonstrated the nature and character of God. Circumstances and situations don't determine who God is. His Word and the work of Jesus do! 

 As we continue studying more about the Father of Lights and examining God's Goodness at all times, let's address this notion of God's wrath and judgment on cities, nations, and continents. God is Good, but is He sending judgment today? Are disasters and destruction the handiwork of God?

 In 2011, the Fukushima disaster occurred in the nation of Japan. It was a terrible tragedy. An earthquake struck the island nation. Subsequently, a tsunami was triggered as a result of this quake. This destruction also caused a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. 

 The Christian response to this tragedy? In some circles, they claimed this tragedy was the judgment of God on this Godless nation. For hundreds of years they have rejected Jesus as a nation therefore God sent this devastating disaster to get their attention and to cause them to repent and turn to God. 

 These sentiments are not what brings about a change of mind. Instead, these teachings and proclamations are one of the reasons the Japanese people refuse to accept Jesus or have anything to do With the Father! Is this the message that God endorses and confirms?

 Absolutely not! Look at what He has said already. 

Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4 MEV

 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him.10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. Romans 5:8-10 MEV

 Look at what God declared and revealed to us in the person of Jesus. If God gave up His only Son for us while we were enemies, what would He do after this perfect final sacrifice was offered up and He accepted it fully? 

 If we were enemies and He gave us His Son why do we think under this New Covenant God is sending destructive judgment and wrath on nations? Enemies are adversaries. They are actively opposing and standing against their foe. If God expressed His love for humanity when we were actively resistant and opposing God by giving His Son how much more loving, kind, and merciful is the Father under Grace? 

 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 TLB

 In this 2011 disaster over 19,000 people lost their lives. These are people with families and loved ones. How do we tell these precious people who lost their loved ones that God killed them to get their attention? How do we tell them God killed their babies so they will repent, and then afterward ask, now don't you want to receive Him and serve Him?

 God is a Good Father. How dare we as the Church misrepresent the Father to a lost and fallen people? These who are lost, are sheep scattered with no Shepherd. God's heart is for them to know how much He loves them and how precious they are to Him.

 In a fallen and fractured creation, tectonic plates shift, causing increased damage and devastating destruction. This has nothing to do with God's wrath and judgment. I saw God's hand in the rescue, relief, and rebuilding efforts, not in the destruction.

God loves the Japanese people. God wants them saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed, made whole, and at rest in Him. We must not misrepresent the Father to a lost and dying world. God is Good and only does Good! 

 God is not the author of disasters. He is not sending destruction to any nation. He is sending the power of the Spirit to the nations. He is revealing His Love and Goodness to the world. He is not sending destruction in wrathful judgment today. 

 Jesus took all the punishment for the sins of all humanity. He bore in His body the wrath and judgment of God. God is satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son. If He is sending wrath and judgment with tsunamis, tornados, and typhoons that could only mean He is not satisfied with the work of His Son on the Cross, and that is not the truth. Let’s represent the Father rightly. Jesus revealed a God who saves, not destroys. When tragedy strikes, let our message be mercy, not wrath. God isn’t sending disasters—He sent Jesus. And Jesus is enough.

 Let’s be a generation that represents the Father accurately. Let’s proclaim what Jesus came to reveal: a God who rescues, not ruins—who saves, not strikes—who loves, not lashes out. When disaster strikes, the Church should not echo wrath but embody rescue. Let the message we carry be clear—God is not mad at the world; He gave His Son for it. And that Son, Jesus, fully satisfied the justice of God. All that remains is mercy, grace, and the invitation to come home to a Father who is always Good.

Image by Karen .t from Pixabay

Father of Lights: Healing mercies

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

 James declares God to be the Father of Lights. That is the Father in whom there is no darkness and is always Good. Christians need to know and understand who God really is. He is a Good Father, not a harsh taskmaster.

 When we consider the work of Jesus during His earthly ministry, we see Him heal the masses of their sicknesses and diseases. Religious tradition claims Jesus only healed to prove He was the Jewish Messiah. It seems this was a mere wooden, mechanical reaction to the gathering masses. 

 In the mind of the religious, it had nothing to do with God's Love, kindness, Goodness, and mercy. It was merely a mechanical fulfillment of prophecies given long ago and to establish His identity to people. If healing was more than just proving His identity, religious people would have to give an account and answer as to why they teach God no longer heals or brings restoration and wholeness.

 The Scriptures tell a different story. They reveal to us a Father who loves us. They affirm a Savior who was moved with mercy and compassion to restore that which was broken. God is a Good God and He heals because He loves humanity. He created us, surely He loves us as well.

Whenever Jesus healed, we can see the correlation between compassion and the ministry of divine healing. It is the compassion of the Lord that brings wholeness. Faith is trusting in His Love and Goodness. Faith is having a good opinion of God! Faith is being fully persuaded. Persuaded about what though? Fully persuaded that God is a Good Father who loves us unconditionally and is for us and never against us.

 Now someone may say they don't feel worthy to receive healing. I want to share a story from the life of Abraham to offer hope and bring greater clarity to the Lord's loving kindness in healing. Look at Genesis 20. 

 So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; Genesis 20:17 NKJV

 This is the first instance recorded in God's Word of divine healing. The law of first mention really helps us get a blueprint and insight into who God is. The law of first mention is a scholarly way of Bible interpretation. Basically, it simply means the first time an event occurs or a word is used, we typically use that instance or definition to define that word or similar event when we see it again in Scripture.

 This passage beautifully illustrates the Love and mercy of God in bringing divine healing. How so? Abraham lied to the people, and the king took a married woman into his palace to be one of his wives. So, both King Abimelech and Abraham were not "worthy" based on their behavior or performance to pray for anything, let alone receive something from a holy God. 

 Yet we see God answer Abraham's prayer for healing and Abimelech's household receiving healing. This beautiful passage reveals to us healing is never about us and our goodness or behavior. It's all about the Goodness of God.

 The Father of Lights brings healing and wholeness because of His Goodness and holiness, not our own. His healing is based on His merciful kindness and compassion and not on something we have done to merit receiving it. Healing is rooted in God's mercy and Love. 

 In summation, let's put our trust in His Goodness alone and not our achievements or merits. He heals because He loves us. He procured our redemption on the Cross, and that's what brings healing, not anything we can do. 

If you’ve ever doubted whether healing is for you, remember: It’s not about your worthiness, but about His goodness. Right now, choose to trust in His love and receive the healing He freely gives!

Image by sdecesare from Pixabay

Father of Lights: The Lord's Compassion

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

  God is a Good God. He is a Good Father. Or is He? The way God our Father is portrayed by Christian religious tradition it seems He is the God who afflicts and tears down and destroys. Is that who God really is?

 We are in a new series studying the truth of who God really is. In this fallen world, we do see desolation, devastation, and disaster abound. What is God's role in this? 

 According to religious tradition and hyper-sovereignty teaching, this is the handiwork of God. God is controlling every aspect of this planet therefore He must be responsible for all the disasters and the desolation. We also must never question this because He is God and must have some mysterious purpose for this.

 I passionately disagree. I believe we should stay with the source God Himself gave us to know and understand who He is. He gave us His Word to see His character revealed. God is a Good God and according to the Word, He is not the author of the storms but the calmer of storms! 

 In this fallen world, we see disease and distress and sickness abound. Does this mean God ordains or orchestrates this? Again, look at the Word, the revealed will of God. Jesus saw sickness and removed it, He never added more to the afflicted.

 Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. Jesus is the revealed will of God. Jesus never encountered someone and said I see you're sick I will increase the symptoms so you will really learn humility and patience. I never see Jesus afflict people with pain and agony and suffering to "better" people or to chasten or instruct them. 

 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 NKJV

This is the Savior the Word reveals. A compassionate Lord who heals. What motivated Jesus? Was it some mechanical reaction to prove something? Cold religious traditions of men declare Jesus only healed to affirm He was the Messiah. This is the false notion of cold, lifeless, joyless, bleak man-made religion. 

What motivated Jesus?

35 Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they fainted and were scattered, like sheep without a shepherd Matthew 9:35-36 MEV

 Jesus didn't heal anyone to prove who He was. The Scriptures prophesied that the Messiah would heal. The prophets of old were only recording what the Spirit revealed to them. Traditional religion misunderstands and misinterprets this. 

 They can't comprehend what the Lord did in revealing the work of the Messiah to the prophets. They got a glimpse of the future work of Jesus. It's like they saw a peek into the daily life of Jesus as He walked this earth. They saw Him do many things and simply stated what they saw Him do. Cold, barren religion only sees Jesus working miracles as a wooden, mechanical action to advertise and confirm His identity.

 Jesus already knew who He was. He didn't need to prove this to anyone. The problem with this view of Jesus' healing is that it gives credence to their cessationist position. Jesus won't heal today because He only ministered life back then to show peasants and plowmen He was their Messiah. This strips the true heart motive from Jesus to minister to people.

 Look how Jesus responded to the people He encountered who were in distress. Jesus ministered life because of His compassion, not any other reason. His heart overflowed with compassion and He wanted to stop suffering. He didn't want to extend it or exacerbate it.

 Jesus is also the person of Grace. When He saw the multitude, He was moved with compassion. He was not repelled by any of their sins or shortcomings. Surely, we must know there were people in the crowd who weren't living perfect lives. Yet Jesus was still moved with compassion and ministered healing and life. 

 Sins, failures, and faults do not stop the Savior's healing hands from sending health, healing, and wholeness. His compassion overshadowed the weaknesses, flaws, and sins of the people. His Grace is greater than sin.

 So the question we must ask is, is Jesus any less compassionate today? Has His healing mercies stopped flowing today? Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is still the merciful loving Savior today. The Father of Lights has no shadow of changing or turning. If He was compassionate to heal then He is still compassionate today. He is Good, receive from your loving Savior today! 

Image by patricia nahat from Pixabay

Father of Lights: Is God really Good all the time?

 

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

 James declares God our Father in Heaven is the Father of Lights. He informs us that He is unchanging. This is Good News! This tells us that God is Good and He is always Good and there is no changing with Him! 

 The Father of Lights has no darkness. That means only Good comes from God. John echoes this by declaring that in Him is Light, and there is no darkness. No darkness means no evil, wickedness, destruction, or death are within God our Father.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

 The Word of God reveals the Father's great Love and character to us. The challenge we, as humans and even believers face is whether we actually believe this. I think that experience, life in a fallen creation, causes many to doubt this Goodness.

Do we, as believers then, really believe God is this Good? Do we really believe in His all-the-time goodness, or have personal experience and living life in a fractured creation distorted our understanding of God? 

 Let's look at the basics. First, all sincere believers know and believe God forgives sin. Yet even with a basic truth as this, we still find limits surrounding His all the time Goodness coming from traditional religion. 

 God's Goodness reveals a Father so Good that He forgives sin. This is amazingly Good News! We all need mercy even after salvation. As believers, we trust in His lovingkindness when we sin.

 This is His Grace, and we rejoice. We can see so many rejoice in this Goodness. Now let the believer sin that same sin again. Let's see the believer continue sinning that same sin. Do we still believe His Goodness covers that sin? 

 This is where we see how much we believe and trust in His Goodness. This is where we see how much trust in His Finished Work of Redemption. Sure there is a place of correction and instructions in these times but more than that there is Love and Grace that is restoring and forgiving.

 What about when disaster looms on the horizon? When severe thunderstorms, tornados, or tsunamis threaten the city or the coastal region? What is the initial reaction? Do we believe God sent the storm? Do we believe God directed the tsunami to punish sin, to judge the city? Do we believe God is striking the area? 

 What is our first thought? Do we align with God's Goodness, sending prayers of protection to the affected area? Do we intercede for those directly affected? Do we do what we can to bring relief, render aid, and contribute to the recovery operations? 

 What about if there is a negative report from the doctor? Do we believe the sickness or disease is merely our cross to bear for Jesus? Do we believe God is the One afflicting? Do we believe healing is done away with today, and sickness perfects the saints?

 This is where we all live, practically speaking. We daily have opportunities to believe and affirm God's Goodness. In a fallen and fractured creation, we will face disasters, death, disease, and disobedience in the life of believers. What holds us, what anchors us in the fallen world? 

 Resting in and knowing God is always Good and only does Good gives us hope and peace in a fractured creation. David said He would have given up if he didn't believe he would experience the Goodness of God in his life. This proves trusting in His all the time Goodness is key to living victoriously in this life. 

 God's Goodness is the foundation of the Gospel of Grace and the life of Faith. The revealed character of God gives us the basis to believe that He is Gracious and has forgiven us of all sins and His perfect work of Redemption is a completed work that the Father accepts. He is so Good, He honors the work of His Son.

 His Goodness revealed and understood is what fuels our trust in Him enough to step out in Faith. We know His character so we can take Him at His Word. We know He is so Good so He will honor and keep His Word. This is the basis for our Faith to flourish.

 God's Goodness is not just a theological truth—it is the foundation for a victorious life! Take a moment to reflect: In what areas have you struggled to believe in His all-the-time Goodness? Will you choose today to trust that He is always Good, always faithful, and always for you?

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Abundance of Grace: More than Enough!

 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY 

 There are various religions and spiritual paths that mankind has followed for centuries. Some follow philosophies, creeds, and reasonings. What distinguishes Jesus and Christianity from all of these voices in the wind? What is the distinction between the Gospel of Christ and the other religions? 

 Grace is the distinction from all the rest! Our Gospel is rooted in what Jesus Christ has done for us. Our Gospel is based on Jesus' work and not any other. The foundation of the Gospel is Jesus' perfect work of Redemption, and nothing we have achieved, nothing we are doing consistently, and nothing we can accomplish with enough consistency.   

 The Gospel distinction is that Jesus' work was more than enough. The Cross of Christ was more than enough to purchase and procure and provide for Redemption for whosoever receives. The Cross was more than enough to forgive our sins past, present, and future. The Cross was enough to permanently save us, securing our salvation forever. The Cross was more than enough to remove condemnation for all time and eternity.

 Traditional religion keeps looking at our sins, shortcomings, and failings. Grace keeps looking at our Savior and His completed work and the more than enough sacrifice that forgave those sins. Grace isn't making light of our sins but standing in awe of the forgiveness purchased by the shed blood of the perfect Savior, Jesus Christ!

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4 NASB

 There is complete Redemption and forgiveness in Christ alone. This Grace distinguishes Jesus from all the rest. No other religion, no other philosophy can provide this peace and reconciliation. No amount of charity and good works could merit this Love and mercy. No level of discipline or abstinence from wrongdoing could earn or achieve this forgiveness. 

 How does this abundance of Grace alter or affect our lives practically? What does the knowledge of the forgiveness of our sins and security in Christ produce? What is the benefit of focusing on this Grace? 

 To the child of God, the believer, and even those who are outside, lost in their sin and unbelief, it brings hope and brightens our path as a shining light, a beacon of expectation of goodness unparalleled and unmatched by anything. The focus shifts from ourselves and onto this Loving Savior and Good Father. The realization is we can trust in Him completely and know He is for us and will not hold our failures against us.

 It opens our eyes, that this Cross and work of Christ was more than enough. It leads us to the truth He paid it all in full. He has more than enough Love, mercy, forgiveness, and new life for us.

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption Psalm 130:7 KJV

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7 NASB

 When we know there is plenteous Redemption for us we can lay down our own works and performance attempts to be loved and accepted by our Father. When we know there is more than enough Redemption the lost soul can stop running and run to the Father and find forgiveness and a new life. When we know there is abundant Redemption for us we can lay down worry and anxiety and know our Father is there caring for us and providing for our needs. 

 Grace is the personal realization that Jesus' work was more than enough. This Grace has provided for anything we would ever need in this life. Jesus is our one thing! He is the only thing! He is more than enough!

 The Cross was more than enough, and the Father has accepted this once for all sacrifice. That means our sins are forgiven once and for all time, and they will never be accounted to us again. This also means that our Father is not against us but for us. That we are welcomed in the presence of God and celebrated there. 

 Embrace this abundance of Grace. It's all about Jesus. It is all about knowing and understanding Jesus' work was more than enough. This produces such gratitude and thankfulness for Jesus and His Redemptive work. This is true honor and glory given to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives will never be the same the more we focus on Grace and the More than enough Savior Jesus!

image by Grok,X AI 

Abundance of Grace: Graceful thinking

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

 For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY

 Jesus is the person of Grace. The Gospel is the Grace of God revealed and demonstrated in Christ's victorious, Redemptive work. When we receive an abundance of Grace, Paul tells us we will reign as kings in this life.

 If we want to reign in life, we need to know how to receive abundant Grace. I believe Paul gives us the key to reigning in life when he tells us to renew our minds and not be transformed by the world's ways. Think about it—this world operates on effort, striving, earning, and achievement. But God's New Covenant operates by grace.

 God's New Covenant is a Covenant of Grace. It is not a covenant requiring our efforts, our achievements, or our performance. It is a covenant made between the Father and the Son, and we are the benefactors. We partake of this covenant when we trust in Christ alone. We freely receive all Jesus purchased and provided through His work and not our own.

 Renewing the mind is crucial to walking in the fullness of grace, but it’s not a self-effort or works program;

 Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Transformation comes not by striving, but by seeing—seeing Jesus, the person of Grace.

  Beholding Jesus: The Key to Renewal

The secret to renewing the mind is not willpower or self-effort. It is found in beholding Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

As we behold Jesus—His love, His finished work, His righteousness—we are transformed effortlessly. The more we see Him, the more we think in alignment with grace.

Renewing Our Minds to Grace

1. No More Condemnation
   Romans 8:1 declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” If Jesus took our judgment, why entertain thoughts of guilt or shame? Jesus' sacrifice was enough, God isn't punishing you. Renew your mind to this truth: God is not condemning you, so stop condemning yourself.

2. Eternally Secure
   Jesus said in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Renew your mind to this: Your salvation is not fragile; it is secured by Christ Himself. You can't forfeit it, or lose it, once you trusted Christ alone you are irrevocably saved!

3. Deeply Loved and Liked by God
   It’s easy to accept that God loves us in a broad sense, but do you realize He also likes you? Zephaniah 3:17 says He rejoices over you with singing! He enjoys being with you. He is not tolerating you—He delights in you. Renew your mind to this: God is smiling over you right now. His arms aren't folded in disapproval of you, His arms are open wide welcoming you! 

Abundance of Grace Through Abundance of Beholding

An abundance of beholding Jesus leads to an abundance of grace in our thinking. The more we focus on Him, the more we walk in transformation—not by effort, but by revelation. Instead of battling thoughts of fear, insecurity, or condemnation, we let grace flood our minds.

Keep beholding Jesus. Keep renewing your mind to who you already are in Him. Grace-filled thinking leads to a grace-filled life. 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Abundance of Grace: More than enough or too much?

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY

 How much Grace is enough? Is there such a thing as too much Grace? Is it possible to get "out of balance" with Grace? Is there too much focus on Grace and not enough on Christians "doing"?

 My instant response to these questions is to remember that Jesus is the person of Grace. Jesus is God's will in action. Jesus is the Father's expressed perfect will. We know God is always God and wants our good because we see Jesus demonstrate this during His earthly ministry.

 My initial response is too much, Grace? How can we have too much of Jesus? The religious-minded say they don't think we can have too much of Jesus but that Grace people only focus on a part of Jesus' life and ministry. Critics, in essence, say the "Grace message" focuses only on Jesus as Savior, not on Him being Lord!

 Religious tradition's concept of Jesus' Lordship is that of an austere taskmaster. He will subjugate and demand obedience or unleash trouble and turmoil in one's life. Religion's concept of Lordship means He places burdensome rules, regulations, and requirements on our lives. 

 Jesus' Lordship is not about our performance or behavior. Jesus' Lordship is about who He is and what His triumphant work of Redemption accomplished. Because of His Finished Work, He is Lord of all creation, all the powers of darkness, and over the curse. 

 Jesus is Lord over healing and wholeness. Jesus is Lord over prosperity and provision and blessing. Jesus is Lord over deliverance and freedom. He is Lord of all! Jesus' Lordship recognizes who He is, what He accomplished, and what He is doing today through the power of the Word and the Holy Ghost. 

 Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and live upright lives (Titus 2:11-12). It transforms us from the inside out, making true holiness possible—not through rules or fear, but through a relationship with the One who has already made us holy. To embrace grace is to embrace the fullness of Jesus, and to suggest it’s ‘too much’ is to misunderstand the Gospel entirely. Grace isn’t just enough—it’s more than enough because it’s the unending, all-sufficient gift of Jesus Himself.

 Again this Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and the desires the world seeks after. These are not the Lord creating rules, but maximizing our life here. Adultery, addictions, and abusing our bodies with chemical substances have lingering consequences that dishonor the Lord and impact our personal lives negatively. 

Remember God isn't punishing us for our sins. Jesus paid the price in full with His precious shed blood. We have been forgiven of all our sins past and present and future. Our sins are already forgiven. God isn't imputing sins to the Righteous ever again. To claim God is punishing a believer for sin is to disregard and make nothing of Jesus' Finished Work.

 I can understand staying centered and not wrongly teaching truths from the Scriptures. For instance, teaching healing is good, but is wrongly applied if we tell people to never go to a doctor. That said, we can never over-emphasize Grace or have too much Grace.

 We can never over-emphasize Faith. Faith is how the believer lives. Faith is how we please God. Grace can never be over-emphasized. Grace is the person of Jesus. Grace is the Gospel of Christ. We are saved by Grace through Faith. These truths of God can never be over-emphasized.

 I liken this whole over-emphasis argument to the human anatomy. Can you imagine a physician saying you are focusing too much on your heart? The body needs the brain, the lungs, the kidneys, the heart, etc to live healthy and sustain life. So it is in Christ. We need Faith, we need Grace, we need Love, we need hope in order to live, spiritually speaking. 

 When religious tradition claims we focus too much on grace, it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding: Grace isn’t a doctrine to balance—it’s the person of Jesus Christ. Grace is the Gospel itself. Can we ever have too much of Jesus, the One who embodies grace and truth? To say there’s 'too much grace' is to undermine the very essence of the Good News and the life-transforming power it carries. Grace isn’t just sufficient—it’s everything.

Living the Victorious Christian Life: Words

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 corinthians 15:57 AMPC

But thanks be to God, who is always leading us in triumph in · Christ, and through us is making known the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 MOUNCE

 Who doesn't like winning? We wouldn't follow a sports team very long if all they did was lose every single game they played. It's the same in the spiritual arena. In Christ, we have reason to celebrate. We who have received the free gift of Grace are now victors in this life. We are winners, champions, and triumphant, all because of Jesus.

 Living a life of victory is what Christ provided for us in this life as well as the one to come. He has given us the provision, tools, and keys, if you will, to be victorious in life. Delving into this victorious life, we have seen wisdom, hope, and Faith as important factors in living victorious lives. 

 Today, I want to go further into these areas by looking at the words we speak daily;

For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful, And who will say to him, “What are you doing?” Ecclesiastes 8:4 AMP

 Words are powerful and creative. Words are containers. They either contain life, goodness, Grace, and Faith or death, cursing, unbelief, and condemnation. In desiring to live victoriously, we must ask ourselves what are we speaking? What are we saying?

 Most believers are familiar with the passage in Proverbs that says death and life are in the power of the tongue. What is more powerful is reading it in the context of the previous verse. 

From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, From the increase of his lips he is satisfied. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:20-21 YLT

 Words continually spoken reveal where we are in our thinking and what we have been feeding on consistently. Words of doubt, fear, worry, and anxiety show that we are feeding on and giving attention to the symptoms, the problem, the lack, and the current circumstances we face. 

 It's not that we should ignore what we are going through. It's not that we should pretend nothing is wrong or deny what is happening or what we face. Walking in victory means we shift our focus, thinking, and belief onto God's provision and promise. 

 Look at an athletic event for example of what I am speaking of. Say it's the 4th quarter with 5 minutes left to play and the team is down 14 points. Does this mean it's over? No hope of winning the game? 

 That depends on what the players and coaches are giving attention to. If they only see the deficit on the scoreboard, the abilities of the opposing defense, and their own deficiencies, they will not overcome the odds. Champions look not at the circumstances but at the possibilities of victory. 

 In other words, they have hope, they don't quit. They have positive expectations to overcome the deficit. They exercise wisdom in calling and executing plays. They believe they can and they act on their belief and go for it. 

 So what are we feeding on? What are we giving attention to? If we feed on the Word of Christ, what He has done, what He has provided, and what the Father promises, our beliefs and thinking begin to align with what is written and what He accomplished. Our words then begin to agree with God and not disagree with Him.

 We can talk ourselves out of the promises and provisions of God. I know that cuts cross grain the hyper-sovereignty view so many preach about God. This is not God withholding from us. This is not God saying no I won't bless you now because of poor performance. 

 This is us disagreeing with God and unwittingly telling Him no. He will not override our will. Jesus said out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

 Words are a powerful force in the universe. God created the whole universe by speaking to it. Faith and confession, or agreement, are inseparable truths. Faith is released by words. We got saved by words spoken. Now we didn't cause the salvation but words made it real in our lives. 

 By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 AMP

 Our words are framing our own world. If we agree or disagree with God, we will see our lives framed by that which we speak. If we believe He holds our sins against us and speak that out, our lives will be framed with guilt, shame, inferiority, and condemnation. On the other hand, if we agree with God that we are forever forgiven and made Righteous, our lives will be framed with peace, confidence, and freedom.

 Faith's confession agrees with the reality that Grace already made. Faith's confession creates that reality in our own life. Speaking in alignment with Christ and the promises of the Father frames our world with Faith, hope, victory, and wholeness in every area of life.

 Abram spoke in agreement with God and manifested the promise. God changed his name to Abraham. That means father of a multitude. He called him the father of a multitude when he currently wasn't. Abraham kept agreeing with God, calling himself the father of a multitude, and soon after Isaac was born. 

 So let me ask what are you saying? The Word doesn't let the weak say I am weak. it says to let the weak say I am strong. What are you saying? 

 "God can't forgive me, I have sinned so terribly."

 "God won't forgive me this time, I have committed this sin once too often!"

 "There is no way God can help me. This situation is impossible."

  "I can't receive healing, this is incurable."

 "God can't provide for me, this is too big for even God."

 In summation, words are one of the most powerful forces in the universe. Let's add our agreement with the Grace of God, the Finished Work of Christ, and God's Word. Let's speak out in agreement with God and not the situation. Let's consider Jesus and the Father's great Love for us and not the problem. Let's embrace the victorious Christian life with the words we speak. 

 I declare victory, hope, healing, power, and blessing over every area of your life in Jesus' name. 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay